Follow FEMA:

Nonprofit Groups-What Are They And Can They Apply For Disaster Assistance?

SHREVEPORT, La. -- Certain private nonprofit (PNP) groups in the disaster-designated parishes that experienced damages from the severe storms, tornadoes, and flooding that occurred from Oct. 29 to Nov. 3, 2009, may be eligible for Public Assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). That includes eligible PNPs in the parishes of Beauregard, Bossier, Caldwell, Catahoula, Claiborne, De Soto, Franklin, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Union, and Webster.

A PNP is an organization that owns or operates facilities that provide certain essential services of a governmental nature and may be open to the general public. These groups may provide critical and non-critical services.

“The uninterrupted services of PNPs are an important part of disaster recovery,” said Federal Coordinating Officer Gerard M. Stolar. “They provide vital services directed to the well-being of disaster-affected Louisianians.”

PNPs begin the application process by contacting their local (city or parish) Office of Emergency Preparedness. The deadline to apply is Jan. 30 for Catahoula and Franklin parishes, with an extended deadline of Feb. 9 for the remaining disaster-designated parishes.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards. Additional disaster and public assistance information can be found on www.fema.gov.